Harmonization of the principles of collective agreements and corporate culture at industrial enterprises in Ukraine

Abstract

The article substantiates the necessity of harmonizing the collective agreement and corporate culture as a strategic tool for overcoming labor shortages at Ukrainian industrial enterprises under martial law. The current state of the Ukrainian labor market is analyzed, which is influenced by military risks, migration, mobilization, demographic decline, and structural shortages of skilled personnel. It is proven that the labor shortage is becoming a long-term structural constraint for business development. Competition among employers is transforming into a struggle for personnel, where not only material but also non-material factors of attractiveness are crucial. The theoretical foundations of interaction between two institutional blocks of labor relations stabilization are revealed: the collective agreement, which establishes formal labor, economic, and social guarantees, and corporate culture, which shapes the employee's daily experience through trust, communication quality, ethical management decisions, fairness, and support. The highest effect is achieved when these institutions are aligned. Global standards and European trends in collective agreements and corporate culture are summarized, including the EU Directive on adequate minimum wages, the Quality Jobs Roadmap, global framework agreements, and ISO standards. The best national practices of Ukrainian industrial companies are analyzed. A model for harmonizing collective agreement principles and corporate culture is proposed, encompassing four interconnected levels: guarantees, employee experience, employer reputation, and business performance. Practical recommendations for industrial enterprises are formulated. The authors prove that harmonization of the collective agreement and corporate culture has a direct economic effect, contributing to reduced staff turnover, easier vacancy filling, strengthened employee loyalty, reduced social tension, improved production discipline, lower injury risks, and increased enterprise resilience to crisis shocks. In current conditions of war and labor shortages, this is not a social option but a strategic necessity for ensuring the competitiveness of Ukrainian industrial enterprises.